RUBENSTEIN FOX TEAM

Mother-daughter duo, Marlene Rubenstein and Dena Fox, lead the Rubenstein Fox Team as Baird & Warner’s No. 1 agents and team. Their award-winning combination is a blend of Rubenstein’s depth of experience and creative marketing tactics, and Fox’s finance background as well as her pulse on what today’s buyers and sellers want and need. Headquartered in Lincoln Park and Highland Park, the Rubenstein Fox Team also has a very seasoned team of agents, including Laura Kerstein and Amanda Khan. They continue to expand their reach, opening a brokerage in South Florida in 2020, with offices in Fort Lauderdale and Naples.

What do you anticipate the real estate market to look like this year?

A tight inventory to start, with a growth to a more normal market. Prices will not equalize until 2024 due to inventory constraints, but we anticipate the interest rates to level out, which will boost consumer confidence and ultimately result in more home sales and opportunities.

Advice you give sellers before selling their home?

Neutralize the color palette, minimize the clutter, and make sure you are up to date on all home maintenance. I think one of the hardest things to explain to sellers is they are not the buyers of their home anymore and they need to make sure it appeals to the expected audience of buyers in order to maximize their price.

Areas of the home one should invest in?

Updating kitchen and baths always helps for resale but the importance of curb appeal and landscaping are often overlooked as they not only add value, but also are a strong indicator of a homeowner caring for their home.

Advice for a new agent?

1) As in any new career, the value of a mentor is immeasurable. Real estate goes far beyond what you learn on paper from passing the exams and it is so important to learn from someone in the field everyday with depth of experience. 2) Ask top agents to cover their open houses as it is a wonderful way to see new inventory, learn how to talk to buyers, promote yourself on social media, and get free leads! 3) Make sure to take the time to know your market—study and understand the trends. 4) Be the educator for your clients. This is a huge investment (and most often the largest buyers make to purchase a home) and you want to make sure your buyers and sellers understand how the entire process works. Taking the extra time to sit down and explain the process of buying and selling will always be appreciated by your clients. 5) Don’t ever underestimate the value of relationships be it with clients, colleagues, other agents, and vendors/tradespeople.

The Rubenstein Fox Team is with Baird & Warner. For more information, call 847-899-4666 (Dena), 847-565-6666 (Marlene), 847-209- 1131 (Laura), or (847) 951-3458 (Amanda).